170 EARLY CAREER OP MR. NOBBS. 
character and actions, the reader will infer, 
that Mr. Nobbs's rescue from his hands was 
indeed a providential event. 
Having been made prisoner by the royal- 
ists, Benevideis entered their army, and, 
being taken soon after, was sent to be tried 
as a deserter ; but he escaped by setting fire 
to the hut in which he was confined, and 
soon distinguished himself among the royal- 
ists by his talents and bravery. Again he 
was taken prisoner, and sentenced to be shot 
in company with many others. He fell with 
the rest ; but, though thought to have been 
executed, was not killed ; and he afterwards 
joined the patriots. Being, however, sus- 
pected and accused by their general, San 
Martin, of treachery, he once more turned 
against them ; and hence arose the atro- 
cities with which Benevideis is charged. He 
murdered his prisoners in cold blood ; and 
his great delight was to invite the cap- 
tured officers to an elegant entertainment, 
and after they had eaten and drank, march 
them into his court-yard, while he stood at 
the window to see them shot. Some, to 
whom he had promised safety, he delivered 
